Hate crime: Blacks targeted Jews to beat up and rob

2012 - Three people have been arraigned on hate crime charges today for allegedly attacking a young man in Monsey because he was Jewish.

Police say the attack took place on Grove Street at around 11:50 p.m. Monday.

The victim, a 19-year-old Jewish man, was walking near the Bremer Firehouse when he was hit in the head from behind with what police says was a long, double-edged knife.

Police say since the knife was sheathed when it struck the victim, he experienced pain but was not cut.

Officers who arrived on the scene in minutes arrested 18-year-old Stanley Joseph, of Suffern, 20-year-old Jennifer St. Amand, of Airmont, and 20- year-old Qwesi Williams, of Brooklyn. Police say eyewitnesses supplied them with a license plate number that led them to the trio.

According to officials, Amand was acting as a getaway driver and wasn't involved in the attack, but all three of the suspects made statements that they planned to target members of the Jewish community. As a result, the trio now faces hate crime charges in addition to assault and attempted robbery charges.

Police are also looking into the possibility that there was a fourth assailant.